Languages of Montenegro

Languages of Montenegro are languages that are spoken in Montenegro. According to the Constitution of Montenegro, adopted in 2007, Montenegro has only one official language, specified as Montenegrin. However, at the 2011 census, 42% of the population declared Serbian to be their native language, while Montenegrin was the second most common at 37%. These are both different standardized varieties of the former Serbo-Croatian language, alongside Bosnian and Croatian. However, an official standard for Montenegrin is still in the process of being formulated. The Montenegrin language is written in Latin and Cyrillic alphabets, but there is a growing political movement to use only the Latin alphabet.

Languages of Montenegro
OfficialMontenegrin
MinorityAlbanian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
SignedYugoslav Sign Language
Linguistic distribution by settlements, 2011

Recognized minority languages are Albanian, Bosnian, and Croatian. As of 2017, Albanian is an official language of the municipalities of Podgorica, Ulcinj, Bar, Pljevlja, Rozaje and Tuzi.[1] Additionally, there are a few hundred Italians in Montenegro, concentrated in the Bay of Kotor (Cattaro).

Minority languages of Montenegro
Bilingual signs in Ulcinj.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages entered into force in Montenegro in June 2006, following the independence of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro on 3 June 2006.[2] The Constitution of Montenegro from 2007 states that Montenegrin is the official language of the country, while Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Albanian are languages in official use.[3] The Constitution states that languages in official use are those of groups that form at least 1% of the population of Montenegro, as per the 2003 population census.[3] The Law on National Minorities specifies that the percentage of members of national minorities in total population of the local government should be 15% in order for their language and script to be introduced in official use.[4] Media founded by the Montenegro government are obliged to broadcast news, cultural, educational, sports and entertainment programs in minority languages.[4] Minorities and their members have the right to education in their language in regular and vocational education.[4]

Dialects
Main article: Shtokavian dialects
MapDialectNotes
  Eastern Herzegovinian *Dialect spoken in the western and
northwestern regions of the country.
   Zeta-South Sandžak *Also known as Zeta-Raška dialect,
spoken in the rest of the country.

See also

References
  1. "Albanian language official in Montenegro". Oculus News. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  2. "Minority languages in Montenegro: new evaluation report released". Council of Europe. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  3. "Montenegro's Minorities in the Tangles of Citizenship, Participation, and Access to Rights" (PDF). Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  4. "Manjine u Crnoj Gori zakonodavstvo i praksa" (PDF). Youth Initiative for Human Rights. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
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